Too excited, any tips for new outboard?!

S

Spartanfalcon

Cadet
Joined
May 1, 2012
Messages
25
Ok, so I'm finally at a financial point (wife approved) that I can replace the old trusty 55hp 1976 Chrysler I've been patching up for 3 years. I am going to look at a 97 60hp Mercury ELPTO tomorrow. Any suggestions on what to watch out for or questions to ask that are specific to this outboard? ANY suggestions would be helpful. Not concerned about getting to fit on my boat. That issue is "taken care of".

Just too excited and dont want to walk in there handing over money just to be getting another lemon.

Thanks!
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,880
Re: Too excited, any tips for new outboard?!

Would be best if it were on a boat and you could have it demonstrated for you.

Additionally adding to Scott's comment, usually replacing the impeller in the water pump is a good idea. 97 is far enough back that if it hasn't been changed in a year or two I would do it.

I ran a 60 on a rental boat once and it ran out real good. I have the same design, just in 90 hp. Only thing is it is cold natured when it has been sitting for awhile. However once you get it going for the rest of the day it is stellar. If I boated every few days it probably would be ok, but I don't so I walk it through it's warmup.

Mark
 
JEBar

JEBar

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 4, 2012
Messages
462
Re: Too excited, any tips for new outboard?!

as one who has purchased a preowned outboard which proved to be an expensive mistake, I'll never purchase another without paying someone qualified to go over it .... much the same as having an independent mechanic I trust check out a preowned vehicle

Jim
 
metriccrescentwrench

metriccrescentwrench

Commander
Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Messages
2,598
Re: Too excited, any tips for new outboard?!

I too am "one who has purchased a preowned outboard which proved to be an expensive mistake".

Absolutely the best thing you can do is have it demonstrated on a boat, and run it long enough and hard enough that if there's a cooling system problem it will show up. A good alternative to that would be to pay a shop to go over it and then run it in a test tank or on a dyno. A hundred dollars or so spent verifying the quality of the engine can save a ton of headaches down the road.

Short of that, check compression, take a small sample of the lower unit oil and look for water or metal particles, thoroughly look it over and check for any signs of any repairs done to less than professional standards.
 
Frank Acampora

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: Too excited, any tips for new outboard?!

Sometimes problems just will not show up until actually run on the water. I recently sold a beautiful condition older Chrysler 70. We test ran it and reset everything to factory specs. Put in a new pump impeller. Compression 135,135,130.

Fellow took the engine and mounted it on his boat: Returned almost crying. Engine did not work. In spite of the 10-10 guarantee (ten seconds or ten steps out the door) we gave him the money back and I tore into the engine. Turns out it had a small crack in the cylinder which did not open until engine was run at full power. I threw the block into scrap metal and am currently mounting a different block on the leg.

It wasn't his fault or mine--it just happened and I sold the engine in good faith.

So, buy from a reputable person who will stand behind the engine.
 
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